Nail polish mask



Nov. 16, 1948.

Filed 001:. 22, 1946 N. D. PETTYJOHN NAIL POLISH MASK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Norman D. Pettyjolzn A TTORNE Y Nova 16 1948, PETTYJOHN 7 2,454,004

NAIL POLISH MASK Filed Oct. 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jaw/691%?" Patented Nov. 16, 1948 UNITED- STATES PATENT OF FI'C E Norman D. Pettyjohn, Binghamton, N. Y.

- Application October 22, 1946, Serial No. 704,81&

12. Claims.

This invention relates toadjustable nail polish m'a'sksr It is" an, important object of this: invention toprovide a. mask. for protecting adjacent cuticle from polish applied to the finger nail.

It is afurther'object to-proV-ide, in sucha mask, facilities for. readily effecting adjustments. for suiting. it for application to fingers of widely differing' sizes and forms;

It. is a still further objectto provide a mask having the foregoing characteristics which will be simple and convenientin operation and capable of inexpensive manufacture.

Uther objects: will be hereinafter referred to, and still others'will" be obvious to those skilled. in this-art during a consideration of the ensuing description. in connection. with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a preferred form of the invention, showing, in dotted lines, the outline of a finger in intended position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section approximately along the line- 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3- is a longitudinal section of one of the turrets, approximately along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1-;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of fragments of the device of Fig. 1 in association with a finger and showing outlines of surfaces of maskingpads applied to the finger nail;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; and I Fig; dis a topplan view of the device of Fig. 5, with certain parts removed-1 As best shown in Fig. 1, the frame F has the skirts 2|, 2| depending from portions of the respective sides thereof and has an opening 2'3 therethrongh intermediate said skirts for exposing the outer surface of a finger to be treated, when such finger is associated therewith in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

A tab 25 is provided in the wall at one end of" the opening 23-, and a channel 21 suited for receiving the outer surface of a finger extends along the underside of said frame from the wall; at the opposite end of said opening to the endv of said frame nearest to said tab. Saidtab. and. channel portion isso relatively formed. and positioned that when said channel frame portion is resting upon the outer surface of a finger of the user, the nail of such finger may be placed upon the. outer surface of said tab, while the cuticle is positioned beneath the tab, so as to steady the finger during application of polish to. the nail,v

as Well as maskingthe cuticle at the tip: of the finger for excluding polish therefrom.

A jaw 29 is attached to the-lower side of said:

frame F by the pivot pin 3| in substantial alignment with said channel: portion 21-, and a handle 33 associated with said jaw projects by the side of the handle portion 35 carried by said frame F; so that, by pressing said handles 33 andx35 toward one another, said jaw- 29 and frame will. be spaced apart for receiving a finger therebetween.

A spring 31 urges closure of said jaw 29;.against the under-surface ofsaid frame F; for the: pun pose of firmly retaining a finger therebetweem.

A member 4| is disposed substantially parallel: with the channel 21', and is secured to the-upper surface of said frame F by the guide Etta-D5243, 43, under which1 said member may freely slide longitudinally of said frame. The bent-overeat? 4| prevents said member 4| from being withdrawn from said straps 43, 43..

A'Vbar 4:5 is pivotally attached to. the-.member 4| at til Amasking pad 51; is attached to-thei end of said bar which extends toward theonem ing; 23', and the opposite end of .saidabar 45,: provides a handle 53' for swinging said pad 5| away from the frame The outer wall 5| of the. pad 5| hasaconvex contour tothe end that when said'wall is pressed against the ends of the side pads 15,. 15, aihereinafter morefully explained, an area at the base of the nail will be. masked so as to provide a socalled half-moon effect.

An extension 55 ofthe member is associated with the handle 53, and a latch '51.carried by said extension may be engagedby said handle 53 for the purpose of maintaining. the pad 5| in elevated position; the construction of the pivotal connection 41 is such'as to permit the free end of the: handle 53. to be swung into and! out of engage-- ment with the latch. 51.

A spring. 59 urges movement of the bar 45 to carry the pad 5| toward the frame F.

The'sliding motion of'the member 4| whi'ch'is permittedaby the straps 43, 43 is such that desired positioning of the pad. 5| may be effected with relation to any fingernail restingupon the tab? 25,, irrespective of such variations as may be encountered in the sizes of such. nails;

As best shown in Fig. 3, the skirts 2|, ZI- eachi have an: opening 6| therethrough and" carries turret plates 63-, 63 at respective sidesthereof'; said plates having an interconnection therebetween which. maintains said plates sufficiently spaced sothat they may slide freely over the surfaces of the associated skirt 2|.

.E'acl'r. opening El isof a size andform which permits. movements, of the associated: interconnection 65 therein incident to various positionings of theturretplates 63-, .63 connected thereby, for purposeshereinafter more fully explained.

Side. bars 61;, .312 are mounted on the outer ones of the. respective-turret plates 63,63,103 means of the pivotal connections 69, 69.

Ehe: associated handles. 6t", 61", the turret extensions 63', 63', the actuating springs 1 |,-and

the latches 13, 13, so nearly correspond with like features hereinbefore described in connection with the longitudinal bar 45 that repetition of such description is deemed unnecessary.

The masking pads 15, 15, are attached to the free ends of the side bars 61, 61.

The pads 5|, and 15 are of soft, readily compressible material, such as flexible rubber or a rubber-like compound, and the under-surfaces of said pads are so shaped as to facilitate their conformation to contours of various types of fingernails, when applied thereto as hereinafter more fully explained.

Said pads 5|, 15, 15 are secured to the carrier arms individual thereto by means of the straps 19; the free ends 8| of associated pairs of said straps being bentsomewhat toward one another for better retaining the associated pad therebetween.

As shown, the skirts 2| are disposed at an angle of about 45 from the plane of the device, as exemplified by the axis of the pivot 41 and the surface of the tab 25; but said skirts may be disposed-at a greater or less angle, as desired.

' Such angular disposition of said skirts not only serves to increase the compactness of the device as a whole, but it -'also permits the pads 15, 15 to have a front wall substantially perpendicular to the engaging face thereof, which wall will, nevertheless, be disposed at an angle of substantially more than 90 to the general surface of a fingernailto which the pad is applied, and thereby facilitate application of polish thereto.

'In using the'mask of Fig. l, the handles 33 and 35 are pressed together, and a finger of the user is inserted along the length of the channel 21, between .the lower surface of the frame F and the upper surface of the jaw 29, and the nail of such finger is positioned upon the tab 25, keeping the cuticle below such nail under said tab. The pressure upon the handles 33, 35 is then released, whereupon the spring 31urges the jaw 29 against the lower surface of the finger which is thereby firmly maintained in position. l

The handle 61 of one of the side bars 61 should then be disengaged from its latch 13, and pressed toward the associated turret plate extension 63, and, while so pressed, such turret plate should be movedso, that the associated masking pad 15' will have the end thereof farthest from the tab 25 positioned adjacent to the base of the fingernail, and the front face of such pad disposed along the edge of the fingernail so that said pad will-'coverthe adjacent cuticle; whereupon such handle 61' should be released, permitting'the spring;1| to press'such pad against the cuticle.

I-X'Ihe' other side bar' 61 should then be correspondingly applied to the other side of the fingernail.

--After both of the pads 15, 15 have been thus positioned, the handle 53 of the longitudinal bar 45-should be disengaged from its latch 51, and the pad 5| lowered into the plane then occupied by the pads 15, 15; whereupon the ba 45 and the member i4| should be moved toward the-opening 23 until the pad 5| presses against the endsof the pads 15, tab 25.

Because of the convex contour of the wall 5| of said pad 5|, an area at the base of the nail willbe masked, in addition to masking the cuticle at. the base of the nail, so as to provide a desired half-moon effect. Bolishmay then be applied in the usual or desired mannerfl l i 15, farthest from the After the polish has hardened-the handle 53 should be pressed toward the extension 55 and secured under the latch 51, and the handles 61', B1, correspondingly manipulated to withdraw the pads 15, 15, from the cuticle around the fingernail.

The handles 33, 35 should then be pressed together, thus swinging the jaw 29 away from the underside of the finger; whereupon the finger may be withdrawn from the mask.

It will be evident that the pad 5| may be integral with either or both of the pads 15, 15, or that such ads may be interconnected by resilient material, to thereby constitute a single structure; and that thevarious portions of such a structure may be attached to bars such as 55, 61, 61, or otherwise, for effecting needful di-. verse formations and various positionings of such structure, without departing from the general aspects of this invention.

It should also be understood that various other changes may be made in the formation and relative positioning Qfparts, and that parts may be added and/or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention, in its broader aspects.

For example, the user's finger might be held against the upper surface of the frame (instead of the lower surface, as shown). In such an event, a part similar to the jaw 29 would be pivotally attached to the upper'side of the frame, and such jaw would also carry pad structure, either directly, or through having a membe similar to the bar 45 slidably and pivotally attached to such jaw.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention here described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus described my invention, what -I claim is:

1. An adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frame involving provision for supporting a finger of a user in a predetermined lona finger nail, and mountings attached to said.

frame and individual to said levers, said mountings formed and arranged for enabling respectively associated levers to cooperate in effecting various placements of said, structure in con-- formity with cuticle adjacent finger nails of a desired variety of shapes and sizes.

2. An adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frame involving provision for supporting a finger of a user in a predetermined longitudinal relationship therewith, levers situated at respective sidesof said frame, a lever disposed substantially longitudinally of said frame, masking structure attached to said levers, said structure suited for application to cuticle surrounding a finger nail, mountings attached to said frame and individual to said levers, said mountings formed and arranged for enabling respectively associated levers to cooperate in effecting various placements of said structure 'in conformity with cuticle adjacent finger nails of a desired variety of shapes and sizes, and springs for urging movement of said levers to carry said masking structure toward the position occupied: by the nail of a finger supported by said frame,

3;..Ah. adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frameinuolving provision. for sup. porting a. finger of .a; user in. a predetermined longitudinal relationship; therewith, levers situatedatrespective sides of said frame, a lever disposed; substantially longitudinally of. said frame, masking structures attached to said levers, respectively, each of. said structures comprising soft, readily compressible material: suited for applination to cuticle surrounding a finger nail, mountings. attached to said. frame and. individual to said levers, said mountings formed and ar-- ranged "for enabling respectively associated levers to -cooperate in effecting various placements of said: strmtures inconformity with cuticle adjacentv finger nail-s of a desired variety of shapes and: sizes, and springs for urging movement of saiid levers to carry said masking structures towardrthe position occupied by the nail of a finger supported by said? frame.

adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frame involving provision for supportinga finger of a user in a predetermined longitudinal relationship therewith, turret structures associated with said frame at respective sides thereof'in a manner permitting free sliding relative movement therebetween, levers pivota-lly attached to respective turret structures, masking pads carried by ends of said levers, another masktug-pad of form suited for bridging the spacebetween said first named pads when they are resting upon the cuticle at respective sides of any fingernail of a user, a lever to a free end of which sai'd 'bridgi'ng pad is attached, acarrier member to which said last named lever is pivotal-ly connected, said carrier member secured to said frame in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween in a plane substantially parallel with the length of a finger which is associated with-said frarn inanintended manner for facilitating various placements of said bridging pad in conformity with a desired variety of finger nail shapes and sizes, and springs urging said lovers tomove said pads toward said frame.

5. adjustable finger mask comprising, in

combination, a frame having skirts associated therewith at respective sides thereof, turret structar-es individually associated with said skirts in a manner permitting free sliding relative movement therebetween, levers pivotally attached to respective turret structures, masking pads carried byends of'said levers, another masking pad of form suited for bridging the space between said fi'rst named pads when they are-resting upon the. cuticle at respective sides of any finger nail of a user, a lever to a free end of which said bridging pad isattached, and a carrier member to which said; last named lever is pivotally connected, said carrier member secured to said frame ima, manner permitting relative movement therebetween in a plane substantially parallel with the length of a finger which is associated with said frame in an intended manner for facilitating various placements of said bridging pad in conformi-ty' with a desired variety of finger nail cuticle-.atlrespective sides of any finger" nail of -a user for bridging the space therebetween and masking alsemi-circular area. at the base of such a: fingernail, a leverto 'an end of which said bridging paid is attachedg a carrier member-to which. said last named: lever is pivotallyconnected, said carrier member secured to said frame in a manner permitting-relative movement therebetween in a plane substantially parallel with the length of a finger which is associated with said frame in an-- intended manner for facilitating: various placements of said bridging pad 'to correspond with positionings of said first named pads in conformity with a desired variety of finger nail shapes: and sizes, springs urging said levers to move said'pacls toward saidi-rame; and latches associated with said turret structures and with said carrier member for engagingportions of respectively associated levers for at times preventing such movement.

7.. An adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, av frame having skirts associated therewith at respective sides thereof, a support. carried by said frame and suitable for introduc tion between the encl of the nail of a finger and: the cuticle thereunder'when aid finger ispositioned intermediate said skirts, turret structures: individual tosaid skirts, each of which turret structures comprises plates at respective sides of. the associated skirt and an interconnection be tween said plates spacing them from the associ ated skirt to permit free sliding movement there-' between, levers pivotally attached to the outer plates of respective turret structures, each of said levers having a masking pad carried by anend thereof, another pad of form suited for associa-= tion with. said. first named pads when they are restingjupon the cuticle at respective-sides of any finger nailiof' a user for bridging the space there-' between, a lever to an end of which said bridging pad is attached, a carrier member to which said last namedlever is pivotally connected, said carrier member secured to said frame in a mannerpermitting movement thereof toward and away from said supportfor facilitating variousplace ments of said bridging pad to correspond with positionings of said first named pads" in conformitywith a desired variety of finger nail shapes and sizes, and springs urging said levers to'move said pads toward said frame.

8. An adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frame having skirts associated therewith at respective sides thereof, each of said skirts having an. opening therethrough, a support carried by said frame and suitable for introduc-' tion. between the end of the nail of a finger and the cuticle thereunder when said finger is positioned intermediate said skirts, turret structuresj individual to saidskirts, each of said turret structurescomprising'plates at respective sides of the; associated skirt and an interconnection between said plates disposed inthe skirt-opening andspacing'them from theassociated skirt to permit free sliding movement therebetween, levers pivotr ally attached to the outer plates of respective turret structures, "each of said lever-s having a masking pad carried by an end thereof, another" pad of form suited for association with said first named pads when they are resting upon the cuticle at respective sides of any finger nailof'a user for bridging the space therebetween and ing pad is attached, a carrier member to which said last named'lever is pivotallyconnected; said carrier member secured to said frame in a manner permitting movement thereof toward and away from said support for facilitating various placements of said bridging pad to correspond with positionings of said first named pads in conformity with a desired variety of finger nail shapes and sizes, and springs urging said levers to move said pads toward said frame.

9. An adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frame having skirts associated therewith at respective sides thereof, each of said skirts having an opening therethrough, a support carried by said frame and suitable for introduction between the end of the nail of a finger and the cuticle thereunder when said finger is positioned intermediate said skirts, turret structures individual to said skirts, each of said turret structures comprising plates at respective sides of the associated skirt and an interconnection between said plates disposed in the skirt-opening and spacing said plates from the associated skirt to permit free sliding movement therebetween, levers pivotally attached to the outer plates of respective turret structures, each of said levers having a masking pad carried by an end thereof, another pad of form suited for association with said first named pads when they are resting upon the cuticle at respective sides of any finger nail of a user for bridging the space therebetween and masking a semi-circular area at the base of such finger nail, a lever to an end of which said bridging pad is attached, a carrier member to which said last named lever is pivotally connected, said carrier member secured to said frame in a. manner permitting sliding movement thereof in a plane substantially parallel with the length of a finger a nail of which is resting upon said support in an intended manner for facilitating various placements of said bridging pad to correspond with positionings of said first named pads in conformity with a desired variety of finger nail shapes and sizes, springs urging said lever-s to move said pads toward said frame, and latches associated with said outer turret plates and with said carrier member for engaging portions of respectively associated levers for at times preventing such movement.

10. An adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frame having an opening therethrough of size and shape suited for exposing a finger nail of the user together with the cuticle surrounding such nail, said opening situated intermediate the sides and ends of said frame, a support suitable for introduction between the end of a finger nail and the cuticle thereunder, said support situated at one end of said opening and so formed as to be suited for masking and thereby preventing polish applied to the end of such nail from reaching the cuticle thereunder, said frame having a channel formed in the underside thereof between the other end of said opening and the adjacent end of said frame, a spring urged jaw pivotally attached to the underside of said frame for pressing a finger of the user into said frame channel, means for swinging said jaw away from said frame to release such a finger, skirts associated with said frame at respective sides of said opening, each of said skirts having an opening therethrough, turret structures individual to said skirts, each of said turret structures comprising plates at respective sides of the associated skirt and an interconnection between said plates disposed in the skirt-opening and spacing said plates from the associated skirt to permit free sliding movement therebetween, levers pivotally attached to respective outer turret plates, masking pads carried by ends of said levers, respectively, a carrier member slidably secured to the outer side of said frame for movement substantially parallel with said channel, a lever pivotally attached to said member, a masking pad attached to an end of said last named lever and suited for bridging the space betweensaid first named pads when they are resting upon the cuticle at respective sides of any finger nail of a user, and springs urging said levers to move said pads toward said frame.

11. An adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frame having an opening therethrough of size and shape suited for exposing a finger nail of the user together with the cuticle surrounding such nail, said opening situated intermediate the sides and ends of said frame, a support suitable for introduction between the end of a finger nail and the cuticle thereunder, said support situated at one end of said opening and so formed as to be suited for masking and thereby preventing polish applied to the end of such nail from reaching the cuticle thereunder, said frame having a channel formed in the underside thereof between the other end of said opening and the adjacent end of said frame, a spring urged jaw pivotally attached to the underside of said frame for pressing a finger of the user into said frame channel, means for swinging said jaw away from said frame to release such a finger, skirts associated with said frame at respective sides of said opening, each of said skirts having an opening therethrough, turret structures individual to said skirts, each of said turret structures comprising plates at respective sides of the associated skirt and an interconnection between said plates disposed in the skirt-opening and spacing said plates from the associated skirt to permit free sliding movement therebetween, levers pivotally attached to respective outer turret plates, masking pads carried by ends of said levers, respectively, a carrier member slidably secured to the outer side of said frame for movement substantially parallel with said channel, a lever pivotally attached to said member, a masking pad attached to an end of said last named lever and suited for bridging the space between said first named pads when they are resting upon the cuticle at respective sides of any finger hail of a user, springs urging said levers to move said pads toward said frame, and latches associated with said outer turret plates and with said carrier member for engaging portions of respectively associated levers for at times preventing such movement.

12. An adjustable finger mask comprising, in combination, a frame having an opening therethrough of size and shape suited for exposing a finger nail of the user together with the cuticle surrounding such nail, said opening situated intermediate the sides and ends of said frame, a support suitable for introduction between the end of a finger nail and the cuticle thereunder, said support situated at one end of said opening and so formed as to be suited for masking and thereby preventing polish applied to the end of such nail from reaching the cuticle thereunder, said frame having a channel formed in the underside thereof between the other end of said opening and the adjacent end of said frame, a spring urged jaw pivotally attached to the underside of said frame for pressing a finger of the user into said frame channel, means for swinging said jaw away from said frame to release such a finger,

9 skirts associated with said frame at respective sides of said opening, each of said skirts having an opening therethrough, turret structures individual to said skirts, each of said turret structures comprising plates at respective sides of the associated skirt and an interconnection between said plates disposed in the skirt-opening and spacing said plates from the associated skirt to permit free sliding movement therebetween, levers pivotally attached to respective outer turret plates, masking pads carried by ends of said levers, respectively, a. carrier member slidably secured to the outer side of said frame for movement substantially parallel with said channel, a lever pivotally attached to said member, a masking pad attached to an end of said last named lever and suited for bridging the space between said first named pads when they are resting upon the cuticle at respective sides of any fingernail of a user, relative formation of parts whereby a portion of said bridging pad will mask a semi-circular area at the base of a REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,653,871 Ruttger-Pelli Dec. 27, 1927 1,783,262 Sachse Dec. 2, 1930 2,180,519 Hamilton Nov. 21, 1939 2,209,167 McKinney July 23, 1940 2,257,102 Breene Sept. 30, 1941 

